Hackett and Attwell to discuss drama

Referees' chief Keith Hackett will meet with Stuart Attwell on Tuesday to discuss the Warwickshire official's handling of Sunday's game between east midlands rivals Derby and Nottingham Forest.

Attwell, 25, became the Premier League's youngest ever referee when he took charge of the 1-1 draw between Blackburn and Hull at Ewood Park in August, but he has since hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

He awarded the infamous 'phantom goal' in Watford's 2-2 draw against Reading at Vicarage Road in September, and he is under the spotlight again after a string of contentious decisions at Pride Park.

Attwell ruled out a late Derby goal, instead awarding the hosts a penalty, which was subsequently saved by Forest keeper Lee Camp.

He then disallowed what looked like a legitimate injury-time goal for the Rams when midfielder Miles Addison headed home from a corner.

Attwell also sent off Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan in the 74th minute for a foul on Paul Green when a yellow card would arguably have sufficed.

Derby boss Paul Jewell criticised the young official in his post-match interviews while Forest manager Colin Calderwood also admitted he was left agog by some his decisions.

Hackett will assess Attwell's performance at Pride Park on Tuesday and hopes this latest set-back in his fledging career will not affect the 25-year-old's confidence or reputation.

"I wasn't at the game and I haven't had chance to see it either, but there was an assessor at the game and we await his report," Hackett told PA Sport.

"That, together with the ProZone statistics available from Pride Park, will be used when we have a meeting with him. At that meeting we will talk about the game in question."